Author: jonathanturley

Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Courts, Free Speech, Politics, Society

New Mexico Billboard Triggers Fight Between Privacy and Free Speech

There is an interesting free speech case out of Otero County, New Mexico. Hearing commissioner Darrell Brantley of the Otero County Domestic Violence Court has recommended an order of protection for Nani Lawrence against Greg A. Fultz after Fultz paid for a pro-life billboard criticizing the abortion of their alleged child. Brantley also wants the billboard taken down as a violation of Lawrence’s right of privacy.

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Bizarre, Politics, Religion, Society

Twin Friars Die On Same Day After Inseparable Life

There is a bizarre and touching story out of Buffalo where twin brothers Julian and Adrian Riester, 92, two Franciscan monks died on the same day after spending a virtually inseparable life together. They joined the order in their 20s and last week Brother Julian Riester and Brother Adrian Riester died together at St. Anthony Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.
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Bizarre, Criminal law, Society

Checkbook Justice: Wealthy Chicago Man Kills Two Brits With Porsche, Leaves Scene, Lies To Police, Falsely Accuses a Friend . . . And Is Allowed to Avoid Jail After Writing a Check To The Families Of The Victims

Ryan LeVin, 36, will be able to actually live in “a prison of his own making.’ The scion of a wealthy Chicago-area family, LeVin killed British businessmen Craig Elford, 39, and Kenneth Watkinson, 48, while driving his $120,000 Porsche 911 Turbo. He then lied to police, left the scene of the accident, and blamed the accident on a friend. Yet, Broward Circuit Judge Barbara McCarthy decided no jail time was needed because the wealthy LeVin offered to pay the families of the dead men. Instead of 45 years in prison, McCarthy gave him two years home incarceration in his luxury home.

Continue reading “Checkbook Justice: Wealthy Chicago Man Kills Two Brits With Porsche, Leaves Scene, Lies To Police, Falsely Accuses a Friend . . . And Is Allowed to Avoid Jail After Writing a Check To The Families Of The Victims” →

Bizarre, Congress, Politics

Weiner Roast: He Lied, But Was It a Criminal or Ethical Violation?

Well, as you probably know by now, Rep. Weiner was . . . well . . . less than frank. (ok, I have used up my one allowed pun). I do not see a basis for criminal allegations, but Weiner is likely to face an ethics investigation. Minority leader Nancy Pelosi has called for an ethics investigation. There does appear to be grounds for such a charge, though the House has historically not used its rules to punish members for reprehensible acts committed in a members’ personal life.
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Bizarre, International, Society

Sarkozy’s New Maginot Line: France Bans Use of Twitter and Internet By News Organizations

The French Government has been widely ridiculed over its fruitless efforts to ban common English words from being uttered in the country to protect French culture. Now, the French government has taken a break from the disastrous economy and various wars to ban the use of Twitter and Facebook on television or radio. It appears that the French experience with the Maginot Line has been forgotten.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Society, Torts

Florida Boy Attacked, Stripped Naked in Public, and Videotaped By Three Girls — Resulting In No Charges

There is a sharp disconnect between two prank stories this morning. When Tyrell Morton put an inflatable girl in the girl’s bathroom at his high school, he ended up with a felony charge and a potential jail sentence of eight years. However, when three eighth-grade girls from Dunbar Middle school in Florida tackled an 11-year-old boy and stripped him naked (and proceeded to videotape him and taunt him), they were let go as a simple prank in bad taste.
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Bizarre, Constitutional Law, International

Trump Hits Scottish Couple With Bill For His Own Fence In Campaign To Force Them To Give Up Their Home

While Donald Trump is now saying that he might still run for president, he might want to keep one case off his campaign resume. In Scotland, Trump is bullying a Scottish couple who have had the temerity to refuse to surrender their home to his development. Trump is reportedly not only seeking governmental order to acquire the land but he encircled the home with a fence and then charged the couple with half of its cost — hitting David Milne, 46, and his wife Moira with a bill for £2820 for a fence they do not want.
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Academia, Bizarre, Criminal law, Society

Indiana Teen Pulls Prank in School And Is Charged With Felony

We have been following the trend of criminalization of every aspect of American society from charging or investigating students to parents to teachers. Police in Rushville, Indiana have given us the latest disturbing example. Rushville High school Senior Tyell Morton, 18, simply tried to carry out a prank at his school — and ended up facing a felony charge.

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Bizarre, International, Politics, Religion

The Obedient Wives’ Club: Muslim Advocate Tells Women That It Is Their Duty Under The Koran Is To Service Husbands Like “First-Class Prostitutes”

In Malaysian, sharia law already strips women of many of the most basic protections in society. However, the Obedient Wives’ Club is creating chapters around the country to remind women that if they are beaten or abandoned, it is really their fault. Indeed, vice-president Dr Rohaya Mohamad has publicly told women that it is their duty to service their husbands like “a first-class prostitute.” It is just another insight into the plight of women in some of these Sharia-based systems.
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Politics

Dealing With Fannie and Freddie

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

With the recent appearance of Gretchen Morgenson and Joshua Rosner’s Reckless Endangerment, the focus on the financial meltdown turns to Government Sponsored Enterprise (GSEs) such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (F&F). The claim is that the role of F&F in the meltdown is being marginalized or ignored. Some claim that this book fills an important void.

However, the role of F&F has been well researched and documented.

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Courts, Criminal law

It’s Hard Out There for a Pimp

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

The California Supreme Court has ruled on a case involving California’s pimp law. Jomo Zambia was in his car at a “notorious intersection,” known for its plethora of prostitutes. He offered his pimp services to a woman he believed to be a prostitute. These services “included providing housing and clothing, if she turned over all of her money to him.”

The prostitute turned out to be an LAPD Officer working undercover. Zambia was arrested and later convicted of the crime of pandering, as one who “induces, persuades or encourages another person to become a prostitute.”

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Media, Politics, Uncategorized

The Bells Are Ringing: Sarah Palin and the Revised Story of Paul Revere’s Ride

Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger

I’m sure most Americans are aware that former Alaska governor Sarah Palin has been on a bus tour along the east coast of the United States. What is the purpose of her tour? Only Palin knows for sure. She did, however, provide people with her reason for taking this tour of historical places on her Sarah PAC website.

It’s interesting when (for the 100th time) reporters shout out, “Why are you traveling to historical sites? What are you trying to accomplish?” I repeat my answer, “It’s so important for Americans to learn about our past so we can clearly see our way forward in challenging times; so, we’re bringing attention to our great nation’s foundation.” When that answer isn’t what the reporters want to hear, we’ve asked them if they’ve ever visited these sites like the National Archives, Gettysburg, etc. When they confirm that they haven’t, it’s good to say, “Well, there you go. You’ll learn a lot about America today.” (They usually don’t want to hear that either!)

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Politics

Republican Plan Will End Medicare

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

Medicare is the nation’s health insurance program for people age 65 or older. The government acts as the insurer with premiums paid through payroll taxes by both employee and employer. The law was signed in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson and former President Harry S. Truman was the first Medicare enrollee and his wife Bess was the second.

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Science, Society

The Great Debate

-Submitted by David Drumm (Nal), Guest Blogger

In the effort to keep our readers fully informed of the most controversial issues of our day, we at the Turley blog turn over every leaf. While other cultural wars rage on, it is time to turn our attention to this pressing issue. The correct way to hang toilet paper, over or under?

The miracle that is modern physics has solved this contentious debate.

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